The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced they are bringing back five pitchers from last year’s playoff team.  Mat Batts, Tyler DeLoach, Tommy Houmard, Stephen Vaughn, and Ross Whitley.

A redshirt sophomore at UNCW, Batts returns to the Sharks in 2012 for his second season in the CPL.  Batts had a tremendous 2011 campaign for the Sharks finishing third in the league with a 1.89 ERA.  On the season Batts threw two complete games, while starting nine.  In 62 innings of action, Batts struck out 54 batters while only walking 15.  Batts a native of Winston-Salem, NC is set to begin his first season with UNCW after transferring from Western Carolina in 2011.

DeLoach, a 6-6 lefty from UNCW makes his way back to the Sharks in 2012 after joining the club late in the season last year.  DeLoach in 2011 appeared in nine games, while also starting one game.  Overall DeLoach finished the season with a 3.93 ERA in 18.1 innings of work.  Born and raised in Rocky Mount, NC, DeLoach played his high school ball at Roanoke Rapids.

Currently a sophomore at UNC Asheville, Houmard will return to the Sharks pitching staff this summer.  In 2011 with the Sharks, Houmard finished with a 1-1 record in 11 appearances.  Houmard worked 28.1 innings prior to going down with a shoulder injury.  In those 28.1 innings, he struck out 16 batters.  A native of Greenville, NC, Houmard attended JH Rose High School, where he lettered in cross country, soccer and swimming, in addition to being an All-conference baseball player both his junior and senior seasons.

Vaughn, a former New Hanover High School standout returns to the Sharks in 2012.  In 11 appearances, starting eight games, Vaughn finished with a 3-2 record and a 3.71 ERA.  Vaughn struck out 24 hitters in 53.1 innings of action in his first season of summer collegiate baseball.  A sophomore at Wingate University, Vaughn was born and raised in Wilmington.

The 6-3 righty, Whitley will return as the Sharks closer in 2012.  Whitley saved nine games last season for the Sharks, leading the team in that category.  Overall, Whitley finished with a 2.15 ERA to go along with a 5-2 record in 24 outings.  In 37.1 innings Whitley fanned 50 batters, walked 13 and held the opposition to a .196 average.  A native of Mooresville, N.C., Whitley attended Lake Norman High School.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.  Preparing for its 16th season, The Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.  The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats.  Players are housed with local host families for the summer.  The CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums make their Major League debut thus far.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com. 

Andrew Aguilar

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